VPI’s Humber project becomes the first in the UK to obtain consents for market-leading CCS technology

How the carbon capture facilities will look at VPI’s Immingham Combined Heat and Power Plant.

Leading power company, VPI, has been granted the first environmental permit in the UK for its selected amine capture technology, in a major step towards decarbonising the country’s most carbon-intensive industrial cluster.

The Environment Agency has approved Shell’s patented Cansolv system for use on its Immingham Combined Heat and Power Plant, which sits at the heart of the Humber’s refining and energy cluster. 

VPI has also secured planning permission from North Lincolnshire Council for the carbon capture retrofit, which will future-proof existing heat and power supply, ensuring it is far cheaper than building a new decarbonised plant from scratch.

With annual projections of up to 3.3 million tonnes, it will provide the scale of captured carbon required to deploy the Viking CCS transport and storage network, opening up solutions for neighbouring energy-intensive users, and imports via the UK’s largest port, which sits beside the project.  

Viking CCS received the backing of The Treasury, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves referencing it directly when she delivered the Comprehensive Spending Review in the House of Commons. 

The permit and planning permission come ahead of critical next steps with government, including being formally recognised as an anchor emitter for the Viking CCS cluster, and the award of co-funding of next stage development costs - both requested for April 2026. They will keep VPI’s emitter project and the Viking CCS transport and storage network on track for a final investment decision within this parliament.

A total of 20,000 jobs are to be created within the cluster during peak construction, with £13 billion of private investment in the region. 

Jonathan Briggs, Director of Development and Delivery at VPI, said: “As the government aims to develop the UK's carbon capture and storage industry, projected to contribute around £30 billion to GDP by 2050, selecting the right projects in the right locations is crucial, especially during times of fiscal restraint. 

“The permit and planning permission reflect VPI's dedication to ensuring our project meets one of the key criteria for making CCS a success – delivering the project swiftly and establishing the Humber as a central hub for this emerging industry. We have completed all the necessary preparations at this stage.”

Cansolv uses amine capture technology, a post-combustion technique involving solvents to absorb carbon dioxide from flue gases.